THREE members of the House of Representatives have been accused of attempted rape and sexual misconduct by the US government including soliciting sex from prostitutes during a recent visit to Cleveland in Ohio.
In a strong-worded letter to the speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara, the US ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle, accused Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Mohammed Gololo (APC, Bauchi) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) of the offences. His petition said that they attempted to commit rape and solicited sex from prostitutes during their recent trip to Cleveland for the International Visitor Leadership Programme.
In the petition, Hon Gololo was reported by a hotel house keeper to have grabbed her and sought sex. Hon Ikon and Hon Gbillah for their part, were alleged to have sought the assistance of hotel park attendants to help them get prostitutes.
Mr Entwistle's petition read, “It is with regret that I must bring to your attention the following situation. Ten members of the Nigerian National Assembly recently travelled to Cleveland, Ohio as participants in the International Visitor Leadership Programme on good governance, however, we received troubling allegations regarding the behaviour of three members of the delegation to the US government’s flagship professional exchange programme.
“The US Department of State and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs received reports from employees of the Cleveland hotel where the representatives stayed, alleging the representatives engaged in the following behaviour. Mohammed Garba Gololo allegedly grabbed a housekeeper in his hotel room and solicited her for sex, who reported this to her management and this incident could have involved local law enforcement and resulted in legal consequences for Representative Gololo. Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon allegedly requested hotel parking attendants assist them to solicit prostitutes."
He added that the US mission took pains to confirm these allegations and the identities of the individuals with the employees of the hotel in Cleveland. According to Mr Entwistle, the conduct of the legislators left a very negative impression of Nigeria, casting a shadow on Nigeria’s National Assembly, the International Visitor Leadership Programme and to the American hosts’ impression of Nigeria as a whole.
Mr Entwistle added: “While the majority of Nigerian visitors to the United States do behave appropriately, even a few Nigerians demonstrating poor judgement leads to a poor impression of the Nigerian people generally, though it is far from accurate. Such incidents jeopardise the ability of future programming and make host institutions and organisations less likely to welcome similar visits in the future.”
“I request, in the strongest possible terms, you share this message with members of the National Assembly so they understand the seriousness of these issues and the potential consequences of their actions, not only for themselves as individuals but also for the future of such programmes designed to benefit Nigeria."
Hon Gbillah said the allegation was a calculated attempt at rubbishing the National Assembly and vowed to demand compensation from the US for defamation of character. He explained that that they did not speak to park attendants, basing his argument on the ground that they did not go with cars.
In his own letter to the US envoy, Hon Gololo obtained said: "These are totally false, unfounded and baseless allegations against me. I categorically deny that any such incident happened and I never grabbed any housekeeper or solicited sex.
“I also take this matter very seriously not only because I am an honourable member representing a hallowed institution but because I am husband and father. How will my family and in-laws react to this wild and grave allegation.”
He demanded video or any such evidence of his alleged misbehaviour. Hon Nkole Ndukwe, another lawmaker who was on the trip, expressed shock at the allegation and asked for substantiation from the US.
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